New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-03
SUNDAY MUSEUM OPENING.
ART AND NATURAL HISTORY MANAGERS.

srar;nc Of tho museums on Sunday have been sus-
pended temporarily Among the trustees OF ootn
museums something like q recognition OF each olhers
position has been reached which the supporters OF the
Sundav movement regard as a strong point in their
favor That both museums will be opened, they say,
il certain Possibly the result may not be effected
this year. bnt is bound to be brought about within
a reasonably short time. This is substantially the
opinion of Mayor Hewitt who is trustee OF the
Museum OF Natural History
The trustees who adhere to the present arrangement
are largely in the majority and they maintan that 1t
is not shown that majority OF the people OF the cry
desire a change. When bill introduced INTO tpe
Legislature for addition TO the Museum OF Na'ufai
History recently effort was made TO INCORPORATE "
the bill a cause providing for opening taat museum
ON Sunday The amendment was voted down by
large majority. While scores OF PETITIONS containing
thousands have been received bS the trustees
in favor o. the measure they have sui larger nuoer
of petitions and more names opposing H. Inc ias'
come from Methodist Baptist Presbyterian and other
churches The Sunday Law and Order Society has
opposed the movement from the start, as cacula'eu
10 open all theatres and places oil amusement on
Sunday. AT mass meeting held some months ago III
Chickering Hall the opening OF the museums on Sun
day was condemned by many speakers and strong
letter was read from Archbishop Corrsan taking the
same ground
Several weeks ago conference committee OF the
trustees of both met 10 consider what could
be done OH the question. Joseph Ii. Choate, who
argument in por OF his views which were also sus-
famed bv Richaid NJ. Hoe, but when the question
came to a vote their votes all that supported IT,
Amony the trustees of tue Metropolitan Museum OF
Art Mr. Choate. Richard VI. Hunt Professor William
X Ware of Columbia College, Richard NJ. Hoe,
General Oh Ccsnola and several others are IN FAVOR Oh
openine the museum under certain conditions whe
opposed John Taylor Johnston, the president
Henry 6. Marquand Daniel Huntington, Heber IL,
Bishop and the Rev. Dr. Prime. O1 the trustees OF
4 orris IL
president J. Pierpont Morgan, William T. Dodge,
Soseph W. Drexel, Percy X. Pyne, James NJ
CONSTABLE Hugh Auchincloss, Adrian lsehn ana
Jackson ID. Steward are against Sunday Opening
strong element IN this body is in favor OF the move
ment 1t includes Mr.. Choae, VINO is a trustee OF
both museums, Mayor Hewitt, Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Oswald Ott1sdoler and Theodore Roosevelt.
IL is said with effect that the trustees and lie
members contriblte greater portion OF the money
yearly Tor the support OF both institutions they cannot
I've expected to support what they are opposed 10 on
principle. II the city announces Its purpose OF sup
ortinc both museums there will be better prospect oil
Sunday opening. The Board of Estimate and Appor-
tionment appropriated $1,000 last December TO each
museum to dofay such expenses as might DC incurred
by opening Sundays but II was discovered that
the law under which the museums were ORGANIZED pro
ydes that not than $4,000 shall be gwen to
each museum for its current expenses and the $oOoo
could not he used il the museums were opened except
by special act. An effort Is to be MADE before the
Legislature aduns 10 secure the passage OF an ACT 10
increase the amount OF these appropriations Inc
trustees of the Museum of Natural History are to hold
a conference with the Park Commissioners and the
Board OF Estimate to ascertain what the city Will DO
toward sustaining the expenses OF that institution.
Mrs Robert L. Stuart, who is one OF the most hoerd
both museums, has provided IL Is SAUL
in her will tor nearly Sl.O030OO to be gwen them,
but condition provides that the museums are not 10
be opened on Sunday. Several OF the large exhibits
10 the Museum OF Natural History have the same con-
dtons imposed them, but in the Museum OF Art no
gifts are accepted under such conditions. Mayor
Hewitt does not believe that those who are really
interested in the museums will withdra" their support
because they oJened on Sunday
:. OF course" he said recently. they consider that
there 10 principle in the question: but the world
moves and the people not conservative as TO
lose sight OF that fact and every one OF them is
DESTROYS making the museums rs farreaching IN
their influence possible Ii this is effected by
opening them Sunday these people WILL DC the last
10 complain or hinder it,"
.Will the city be willing to contribute more than
the Sunday expense y he Was asked.
That cannot say No statement has been made
by the trustees yet to show what would be required
to maintain tie -,1ums what is desired by them,
but some legislative action Will prooaOiy DC taken 10
arrange all THIS
In Europe England excepted, thu national museums
are opened on Sundays well other days.
In England the British Museum and other large
institutions OF the kind closed. The opponents OF
the measure here point to the British museums az an
example OF the effects OF the Sunday movement.
Several years ago public agitation was started there
and the Museums were thro IN OPEN The Iesnt was,
II is said, directly the reverse OF what had been
expected Opposition rose among the people who
were expected TO be benefited by the measure Mass
meetings were held and the opening was denounced
Ii was maintained that the measure ould only lead
10 a violation OF Sunday rest day for the people.
Somebody had to work II the museums were open.
On this ground the opening was fought ana the
museums 1T " closed On Sunday.
. The actual cost OF Sunday opening, one OF the
trustees connected with both institutions said,
would not now exceed $4,000 year each. At 2resen
the city Is contributing $4,000 for their mainte-
nance Last year the actual running cost Of the
Museum of art was $50 72S, and that OF the Museum
OF Natural History about $50 900 making total OF
$1,000 DeductnG the $50, 900 contributed by the
CITY, leaves $4,000, which was contributed BY
trustees and members.
This" continued the speaker, " falls largely the
trustees many OF whom, like myself. are connected
with both Institutions Personally | should like TO
sec the Sunday experiment tried but were opposed
TO it a. OF the trustees are, should not se II
the experiment were tired. that could give the same
SUPP ort to the museums as before IL comes then 10
the question whether the city will undertake wholly or
largely the support OF these institutions That Is
question which interests the trustees well. They
pay well Tor their management OF the museums, but II
Is 40; easy &c secure $4,000 every year, and as
the cost OF the museums increases with eacn year.
will drain the pockets OF milliOnaires. Within five
years, when additions have been completed to both
buildings, the actual cost OF maintaining them will
reach fully $4,000 year. The city Will then have
t. take them mainly or entirely III charge
Thee figures it stated do not represent the
cost the Art Schools which are supported by special
funds contributed for that purpose Every large git
particularly TO the Museum OF Art entails extra
expense III Caring tor the articles that have been con-
trDuted, and this expense is not provided Tor III the
bequest but has TO come from the museum iund.
painting like that OF Rosa Bonheur's Horse Fair,
given by Mr. Vanderbilt, may cost 500 before IT can
DO put ON exhibition in the gallery. The single
amount small but it represents one OF hundred
similar expenses. From she "eports OF the Museum oil
Art it al pears that since 1872 there has been con
trbuted toward It's current expenses by me,nDers ana
trustees about $4,000. The property OF the
Euseu H. which has all been presented TO it, represents
about IL .j0O,0O apart from the building and the
grounds From 1850 10 1886 it visited by